From Dull to Sparkling! This Rogersville Family's Travertine Floor Looks as Good as New after a Professional Stone Polishing

May 29, 2017

Proud homeowners like to show off their homes to family and friends, which is easiest to do when the house is new. However, homes deteriorate over time and those surfaces that were once shiny and smooth can become dull and unappealing over time. Areas with a high exposure to heavy foot traffic and water, such as bathrooms, can damage quickly. This homeowner's favorite room in her home was her bathroom. She noticed how its travertine floor had progressively lost its luster, so she decided to look for professional help. She went online and looked for services of stone polishing in Rogersville, MO and found Sir Grout SW Missouri among the top results. After visiting our website, the woman scheduled a free in-home consultation.


Our team arrived on the scheduled date and time. As soon as we arrived, the homeowner walked us to the bathroom. Our technicians' experience allowed us to immediately identify all the signs of deterioration and their possible causes. What appeared to be a dull surface to the common eye was really scratched, etched, and unsealed stone with stained and aged grout lines. The experts told the homeowner it was necessary to apply a multistage procedure to recover the natural beauty of the bathroom floor.

Travertine is a sedimentary rock. This kind of natural stone is not very porous. However, its composition has a high concentration of calcium carbonate, which makes it vulnerable to acidic solutions as they can react with the calcium carbonate, leaving etch marks on the stone. Knowing the type of stone is very important to understand what might have caused the damage on the surface. In this particular case, the crew realized that the homeowner had been using incorrect cleaning products, which had left etched marks all over the floor. Also, she had applied abrasive techniques to clean the surface, producing scratches. The team also found out that she hadn't resealed the surface and it had gone unprotected for a long time. We were able to design a restoration plan that would revive the surface.

Cleaning stage:
The first step consisted of thoroughly cleaning the surface to remove any grime or waxy residue that might have adhered to the stone tiles and grout lines. The experts used stone safe cleaning products and a high-speed scrubber. We also used vapor steam cleaning to remove any mold and mildew that could have grown within the grout lines.

Honing and polishing stage:
Once the surface was completely clean, it was time to remove the scratches and etch marks from the surface. The team began buffing the entire surface abrasives to gain a smoother surface. We continued the buffing and polishing process until the stone surface reached the glossy finish the client wanted.

Color sealing stage:
After the travertine floor was free from etches and scratches, it was time to protect it from further damage. We began by sealing the grout lines. This stage required a high level of expertise since the sealant must be meticulously applied directly on the grout line to prevent staining the stone tile. The crew applied ColorSeal—a cutting edge product specifically designed to seal the pores of the grout, making it water-, stain-, and mold- and mildew-resistant. This water-based, non-toxic sealant lasts as long as grout itself if it is well maintained.

Stone sealing stage:
After ColorSeal had been applied, the team proceeded to shield the stone tiles. This stage is very important to prevent etching and scratching in the future. It is imperative to always keep the surface sealed. Therefore, checking the state of the sealant is crucial to keep the appearance of the stone pristine.

Sealants are important when it comes to maintaining stone surfaces. It is necessary to choose the right type of sealant for your surface. One option is a topical sealer, which stays on the surface of the stone. However, this type may leave a waxy film on top that could attract grime. On the other hand, impregnating sealants penetrate the stone and seal the pores from the inside. This kind of sealant doesn't modify or alter the stone finish or form in any way. Just keep in mind to make sure it's properly working.

Once the team finished and had achieved the results the homeowner requested, we let the customer in to show her the results. She was impressed and thanked the team, unable to take her eyes off the renovated travertine floor. The client said we had exceeded her expectations and that she was going to recommend our work to everybody she knew.

At Sir Grout SW Missouri, we believe in educating the customers on how to maintain their hard surfaces. With this in mind, our team of experts gave the homeowner some recommendations for the upkeep of her travertine floor.

Dry it!
It is always a good idea to keep the surface as dry as possible. The team suggested using a damp mop for the cleaning routine. We also told her to dry it after taking a shower. Finally, we said that if any spill occurred, she needed to make sure to clean it as soon as possible.

Clean it!
It is crucial to regularly clean the surface. It's a fact that bathrooms have heavy foot traffic and could easily scratch the travertine tiles. This is why removing dirt and dust from the floor daily will ensure a scratch-free stone surface for much longer.

Protect it!
Look for ways protect your stone to make it last longer. One way to keep a bathroom floor protected from spills, stains, and scratching is using floor mats. Place the mats near the areas where the spills occur more frequently, like near the sink, bathtub, and shower.

Check it!
Always keep in mind that the best way to keep your stone surfaces protected is by having them sealed. However, it is necessary to regularly check the state of the sealant. Just place some drops of water on the stone and see how the stone reacts–if it beads, the sealant is still working properly, but if it's absorbed, it means that it needs to be resealed as soon as possible.

If you want your stone floors to look as shiny as one of these Rogersville residents, a stone polishing service is your best option. At Sir Grout SW Missouri, we offer the best hard surface restoration services at a fair price. Call us at (417) 522-1010 or fill in the "Request a Quote" form on this page.

If you found this article helpful then let us know in the comments section below. Likewise, feel free to share it using the share options below. Want us to cover another topic of your interest pertaining to Hard Surface Restoration? If so, then like us and follow us on social media, and post to any of our social media profiles the topic you'd like us to discuss: Facebook Sir Grout SW Missouri, Instagram @sirgrout, and Twitter @SGSWMissouri.